The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-23
NATIONS HAVE TEIPERS,
slrsrfOr. sSLwIs AiFs, OF
OXFORD COLLEGE,
And n the Press Perslsts In Arousing
Great Brit aims There viii Be
No Commercial Treaty.

new YoRK, April 22.-The attitude
OF Great Britain In regard TO the ques-
ton Of possible commercial union be-
tween the United States and Canada,
as foresh allowed in the Butterworth
bill introduced in the last session OF
Congress, would have very great infiu-
ence on the mater. In order to elicit
the views OF one 90 we'll informed on
the subject as Prof. Golwin Smith, Q
letter wss addressed to him by Ersstus
Wiman, PRECEDENT Of the Canadian
Club, asking HE opinion as to the pos
sible consent OF Great Britain should
the Canadian Parliament favor meas
ure OF similar import, the result Of
which would be commercial union
between the two countries. The views
Of the Oxford professor as given in
reply to this letter are as follows:
MY DEAR WMAN-The question is
naturally asked, as you say, whether
che consent of Great Britain
could be obtained to measure
Of complete reciprocity, which
would involve an assimilation OF
tariffs between Canada and the
United States. Certainly the Cana
dian loyal colonists, who have every
reasons TO feel grateful and attached
TO their mother country, would not
act in defiance OF her wishes. For
my own part, being British to the
core, would never vote for anything
which thought In the least degree at
variance with the interest or honor OF
Great Britain. But Canada has al
ready been taken formally as well as
practically ont OF the commercial
unity OF the Empire by Sir John Mac
donald, who has declared that he Is
for fiscal home rule to the hilt. Fiscal
independence was formally conceded
to the colonies come time ago, when
the Imperial Government determined
not to interfere with the adoption by
an Australian colony OF protective
tariff. Canada already levies duties,
Avowedly protective, on British goods,
and her adoption Of the American
scale would make no great difference,
as II appears 10 me, either practically
or in point OF principle. 1t lie not mat.
ter l imagine about what commercial
classes OF England who took the change
In the Canadian tariff coolly enough
would feel very strongly or call very
loudly on their government to inter-
fere. That the one great interest OF
England on this side OF the Atlantic Is
the friendship Of the Englith speaking
communities OF the continent has long
been my firm belief, and though /, OF
course, speak with no authority, l
feel q sanguine expectation that this
argument pressed by those whose at.
tachment 10 Great Britain cannot be
questioned will prevail with British
STA 'esmen, and that the consent OF the
Imperial Government 10 free trade be-
tween Canada and the United States
will be obtained. The voice OF Canada
In tho councils OF her own continent Ia
really the best support which she can
ever lend to England either on com.
mercial questions or on questions OF
any kind. Nations, ii is true, have
tempers as well as interests, and II
American Legislatures and journals
persist in trying the temper Of tie
British nation as they are doing at
present mischief not only to the pros
poets Of closer commercial relations, but
to friendly relations generally may
ensue. But 10 d fiicult TO Tee why
Anglo.Saxons should be bent on sac
ri6Cing their natural affinities, their
maternal interests and those OF our
common civilization to the prose Gu
ton OF Celtic feud; or why Ameri-
can legislators and journalists should
deem 1t their duty 10 protest against
the repression Of disorder in Ireland
by the British Government, when
they regard stronger measures taken
by other European governments for
the tame purpose, euch as thoee
which Germany is nov taking in
Alsaoe.LolrAine, with peHect uncon-
Germ. Yours very truly,
W. G0LWIN SMITH.
APRIL 10, 1851.
To Erastus Wiman, New York City.